Rotorua's new mayor says the town needs an 'exit strategy' for emergency housing.

The lakeside town has more than 50 emergency housing motels - a number that jumped significantly after the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.

Tania Tapsell says there has to be a better answer.

"My first day on the job started 5:30 am, and I've already been pushing these strong messages to make sure we can get that important exit strategy out of this."

LISTEN ABOVE

• Government makes changes to Rotorua emergency housing
• Restore Rotorua: Locals have had enough of emergency housing
• Woman gets home detention in emergency housing for role in revenge kidnapping plot
• Rotorua Councillor: Unmanaged emergency housing facilities are causing significant social issues